Research clearly demonstrates that social media can negatively impact kids. How it affects them depends largely on the algorithms that shape their feed. This complicated and covert process regularly exposes kids to content on eating disorders, self-harm and suicide, extreme gender viewpoints, and other harms. Here’s how algorithms put your child in danger and what you can do about it.
Social media algorithms are complex sets of rules and computations running behind the scenes to determine what content users see and in what order.
Algorithms are opaque and vary by platform and user; no two people have the same feed. One key building block is user behavior. Everything your child sees is partially shaped by what they’ve previously liked, commented on, or shared.
Algorithms have upsides, like keeping your feed clear of topics you don’t care about. But they also have a darker, potentially dangerous side for kids. Algorithms can fill a child’s feed with dangerous content at shocking speed. One recent study focusing on Snapchat found that one in three young users reported being exposed to unsafe content or messages at least weekly.
If your child likes or shares a #petglowup, more rescue-dog makeover videos are likely to enter their feed. On the other hand, if they interact with self-harm or disordered eating content, their feed can quickly fill with dangerous topics.
Researchers from the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) found that new TikTok users who paused on and liked videos about body image and mental health were then recommended suicide and eating disorder content within minutes.
We’re not talking about just a few videos. Teens face an onslaught of potentially harmful content. The CCDH study revealed that TikTok recommends body-image and mental-health videos to teens every 39 seconds.
Although your child’s social media behavior is a big factor in what the algorithm shows them, research shows they’re also likely to be shown harmful content they didn’t seek out.
Most egregiously, the algorithmic harm teens face using social media isn’t a flaw; it’s an intentional design feature.
To increase user engagement, social media companies capitalize on the harmful nature of their algorithms by targeting “vulnerable” accounts.
Research indicates that users who seek out eating disorder content often have usernames that incorporate words like “losing weight.” The CCDH study found that accounts with “lose weight” in their username were fed 12 times more self-harm and suicide videos than control accounts.
As parents, there’s a lot we can’t control about our children’s social media algorithms. But there are still steps you can take to protect them from danger.
It can be hard to fully understand what your child sees on social media because your own algorithm (and therefore your experience online) is likely very different from theirs. Here’s how to stay informed:
Explain how algorithms work and why they can be problematic. Teach them to critically examine what they’re shown on social media.
If your child is exposed to harmful content through their algorithm, resetting it can help. Use this guide to start fresh.
If you’re concerned about the content in your child’s feed, parent coach Lisa Smith of The Peaceful Parent offers these suggestions:
Social media algorithms can expose your child to self-harm, eating disorders, and extremist content within minutes, even without them actively searching for it. You can help by monitoring your child’s social media use (BrightCanary is great for this), teaching them to question their feeds, and keeping communication open and judgment-free.
Learn more about the risky spaces your child might fall into online, from the manosphere to eating disorder content.
